EX-FM OSKANIAN PROPOSES 5-CLAUSE PLATFORM
tert.am
09.10.12
Ex-Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, who now represents the Prosperous
Armenia party faction in parliament, has proposed a five-clause
platform, addressing the major challenges in Armenia.
“The presidential election is not far off. ‘Political’ debates in
Armenia have always addressed individuals, as opposed to political
content. Regardless of who will be the main contenders, I think it
is important, from now on, to open discussions and debates over the
key challenges facing our country and people and start looking for
alternatives, considering the complicated situation,” the politician
says in his public profile on Facebook.
Oskanian calls for efforts to bring about moral, social, economic and
other changes in each citizen’s life within the shortest timeframes.
His considerations are presented below.
1. The country’s moral-psychological atmosphere: The main debate
here has to address measures expected to make tolerance and justice
dominant and the state institutions -comprehensive bodies serving
the people’s interests.
2 Improvement of the political arena: The discussion at this point
has focus on the form and content of the state government system.
Transition to the parliamentary system is very often discussed today.
This could be among the key topics of the campaign. But simultaneously,
it is necessary to address the political counter-balances as an
important groundwork for strengthening democracy in the country.
3 Economic policies: New economic approaches replacing the obviously
effective policies have to be a key topic here. They should be anchored
on the principles of eliminating artificial monopolies in the quickest
possible manner, free competition and immunity of property.
Economic growth and the creation of jobs have to be the main target
of the economic policies. To achieve that the Government has, within
the shortest timeframes, commit itself to tax reforms aimed to promote
an economic growth.
4. Foreign policy: We definitely need a restart in all directions
here. It is necessary, first of all, to shape the ideological basis
of foreign policy and apart from viewing it as an objective, switch
over to using it as a tool, and demonstrate an initiative to use the
situation in the region and beyond for gaining a diplomatic advantage
and positive results in all matters of concern.
5. Selection of integration area: It is important to launch an open
and honest debate over the integration trend to be eventually adopted
by Armenia.
This presidential election is not a choice of individuals, but rather
a determination of Armenia’s future, Oskanian says at the end.